Magneto mechanism



Jun 23, 1959 PHELQN ET AL 2,892,110

MAGNETO MECHANISM Filed Sept. 12, 1957 w mam w OHR 5 W m M L 6 M 30 wJ R M w nited States MAGNETO MECHANISM Russell E. Phelon, Longmeadow, and. John F..-Martin, East Longmeadow, Mass, assignorsfto. R. Ei'Phelon Company, Inc, East Longmeadow, Mass., a corpora tion of Massachusetts Application September 12, 1957,'Serial No. 6837,63 7

6 Claims. (Cl. 310-153) The invention relates. generally to a magnetoof the flywheel type and it relates more particularly to .a magneto and engine assembly.

One object of the invention is to provide a simplearrangement of the magneto with respect to the engine frame wherein a single pin has two functions so as to. effect. economy and to obtain other advantages. More specifically a single pin serves as a dowel pin for accurately positioning the magneto on the engine frame and as a bearing pin for the rocker, arm of the magneto breaker mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oil trap for preventing oil from flowing shaft and into the breaker mechanism or ontothe magneto coils.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of. the

invention and such embodiment, will be described, but

it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed,.and that thedrawing and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claimsforming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view .taken along. the

line 11 of Fig. 2, the cover. for the breaker mechanism.

box being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a leftvside view of the stator withathe flywheel ,or rotor and the engine frame shown in section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view .taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, it will be apparent that the.

to magnetic circuits. Ex-

The stator of the magneto and the breaker mechanism are carried or adapted to becarried by an engine frame 3 or plate 10 preferably having a hub 12 which provides along the magneto the present invention the rotor and the stator may be widely varied notonly as to described features of novelty,-

a bearing for a rotatable shaft 14, the shaft extending through and projecting beyond the hub.

The shaft 14 may be an extension of the crankshaft of the engine with i which the magneto is to be used, and inany event. it is rotated in timed relationship with the engine. The hub 12 is shown as being within an annular well having an outer wall connected at its front with the main flat portion 11 of the plate 10. Anantifn'ction bearing 18 is interposedbetween the shaft 14 and the hub 12 and an annular seal 20 is provided, for minimizing the flow of oil forwardly along the shaft.

The stator comprises a magnetic core 22 which has parallel front and rear faces and is preferably laminated. The core 22 is connected with the engine plate 10 by means hereinafter fully described... Said core 22 is constructed and arranged to provide a plurality of circularly spaced poles having arcuate faces concentric with the axis of the shaft 14 and equidistant therefrom. As shown, the core 22 has three poles 24, 26 and 28, and primary and secondary coils 30 and 32 surround the intermediate pole 26. The primary coil has a relatively small number of turns, as for instance 175, and the secondary coil has a relatively large number of turns, as for instance 10,000.

The primary coil 30 is suitably grounded at one end by means not shown, andv the ungrounded end of said coil is connected by means of an insulated conductor 34 with a suitable circuit making and breaking mechanism 36 enclosed within and supported by a box 38. Said mechanism 36 and said box 38 are hereinafter more fully described. The secondary coil 32 is also suitably grounded by means not shown, and it is provided at its ungroundedend with an insulate conductor 40 by means of which it is connectiblewith the spark plug of the engine. Said conductor 40 isshown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

The rotor of the magneto includes a flywheel 42 which is connected with the shaft 14 so as to be rotatable therewith. The flywheel is preferably formed of nonmagnetic material and it is shown as having a disc-like outer wall carrying an annular-flange 44 which surrounds thebefore-described stator. The inner or internal face of the annular flange 44 is preferably cylindrical at least in part.

Located within a recess in the flange 44 of the flywheel is a permanent magnet 46 and two similar pole pieces 48, 48 which are formed of magnetic metal and which engage the magnet at opposite ends thereof. The inner faces of the pole pieces are arcuate and are located to move in close proximity to the outer faces of the stator poles 24, 26 and 28, As shown, the magnet and the pole pieces are held in place by the metal of the flange which is cast around them.

During each rotation, the magnet and the pole pieces therefor cooperate with the poles of the stator to establish a magnetic circuit in one direction through the center pole 26 and through the coils thereon and then to establish a similar circuit in the opposite direction. Thus the direction of the magnetic circuit is suddenly reversed and a maximum value of voltage is established in the primary coil 30. The breaker mechanism is timed to break the circuit in the primary coil at approximately the instant of maximum voltage there, thus generating a high voltage in the secondary coil 32 which is connected with the spark plug, not shown.

As shown. the box 38 for the breaker mechanism has outwardly extending integral ears 50 and 52 which are respectively behind the poles 24 and.28 of the core 22. The core is riveted to said ears as indicated at 54, 576. The rivets at 54, 56 may also serve to hold and to connect with each other the several laminations of the core 22.

The breaker box has outer walls which are rabbeted to receive a detachable cover, not shown, and said box has a rear wall 60. The breaker mechanism as shown includes a stationary breaker point 62 carried by a bracket 54 secured by a screw 66 to the rear wall of the box and thus grounded. The mechanism includes breaker point 68 carried by a rocker arm '70 mounted on a longitudinal pivot pin 72. The rocker arm in has an a movable extension 74 which is engaged by a cam 76 on the shaft 14, said cam being shown as formed integrally with the shaft. The bracket 64 is apertured to receive said pin 72 and the bracket and the breaker point 62 are adjustable about the pin. A slot is provided in the bracket for the screw 66 and said screw holds the bracket in adjusted position. A spring 78 serves to bias the rocker arm to move the point 68 into engagement with the point 62 and the spring, or an auxiliary conductor associated therewith, serves to provide an electrical connection between the breaker point and a terminal 80 to which the wire 34' is connected. Said terminal 80 may be constructed and arranged as shown in the application of Russell E. Phelon and John F. Martin, Serial No. 540,178, filed October 13, 195 5 for Terminal Connection and Assembly.

By means of a conductor 82, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a condenser 84 is connected in parallel with the breaker mechanism 36 in accordance with customary practice. As shown, the condenser is attached to the box ear 52 by means of a clip 86 held by a screw 88.

During each rotation, the magnet and the pole pieces therefor cooperate with the poles of the stator to establish a magnetic circuit in one direction through the center pole 26 and through the coils thereon and then to establish a similar circuit in the opposite direction. Thus the direction of the magnetic circuit is suddenly reversed and a maximum value of voltage is established in the primary coil 30. The breaker mechanism is timed to break the circuit in the primary coil at approximately the instant of maximum voltage there, thus generating a high voltage in the secondary coil 32 which is connected with the spark plug, not shown.

The breaker box and the stator are directly supported on the engine plate 10, and said engine plate is provided with a flat face having an unthreaded hole therein open at the front. Preferably the engine plate is provided with three forwardly projecting integral bosses 90, 92 and 94, and said flat face having a hole therein is at the front of one of said bosses such as 90. The boss 90 is behind the pin 72 for the breaker arm and is engaged by the rear wall 60 of the box 36 and said boss projects from the hub 14 as shown in Fig. 6. The bosses 92 and 94 are behind the box cars 50 and 52 and are engaged by said ears and said bosses project from the flat wall 11 of the engine plate. The boss 92 and associated parts are shown in Fig. 5.

In order that the stator of the magneto may be accurately spaced with respect to the axis of the shaft 14, the hole in the boss 90 is accurately located to provide the required accurate spacing. Said pin 72 which has been referred to as a pivot pin for the rocker arm 70 extends through the rear wall 60 of the box and into the hole in the box 90. Thus the same pin 72 serves as a pivot pin for the rocker arm and as a dowel pin for locating the stator. During assembly the pin may be initially entered in the hole in the boss and the other parts may be assembled on the pin. However, the invention is not limited to this sequence of assembly.

Means additional to the pin 74 are provided for fixedly connecting the stator with said engine plate, and such means preferably utilizes the bosses 92 and 94. As shown, the poles 24 and 28 of the core 22 and the cars 50 and 5?. on the breaker box 38 are apertured to receive screws 96 and 98 which respectively enter threaded holes in said bosses 92 and 94. The screws prevent forward movement of the core or of the breaker box and they cooperate with the dowel pin 72 to accurately locate the last said parts.

in order to prevent any oil that may escape the seal 20 from moving forwardly along the shaft 14 and into the breaker mechanism or onto the coils, an oil trap is provided which is essentially a felt sheet 100 as best shown. in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Said sheet 100 has a hole therein and the sheet is so located that the shaft 14 extends through said hole. The sheet 100 is at the front of the hub 12 and is at the rear of the box 38. Said sheet 100 has a portion that contacts said shaft 14 to absorb oil therefrom and said sheet has another portion from which last said portion oil can drip.

Preferably and as shown, said breaker box 38 is provided with a generally cylindrical flange 102 which projects rearwardly and has a portion 103 of reduced diameter. The flange portion 103 preferably enters the space within a forwardly projecting flange 104 on the hub 12. The said hole in the felt sheet is generally cylindrical for receiving and fitting the flange portion 103. Prefera'bly the flange portion 103 holds the felt sheet 100 in contact with or at least in close proximity to the outer end of the hub 12. The flange portion 103 is formed with at least one notch and preferably with upper and lower notches. There is at least one tab on the sheet which enters the notch in the flange portion 103, and when said flange portion has two notches said sheet has two radially extending tabs 105 and 106 which extend into and fit said notches and which engage the periphery of the shaft 14. Said tab or tabs constitute the aforesaid portion of the sheet 100 which contacts the shaft to absorb oil therefrom. A portion of the felt sheet 100 depends to a position well below the level of the major portion of the breaker mechanism and well below the level of the coils. The lower end portion of the felt sheet is preferably pointed as shown at 108.

Any oil moving forwardly along the shaft 14 is picked up by the tabs 105 and 106 of the absorbent felt sheet 100. As said tabs become saturated, the oil moves by capillary action to other portions of the felt sheet. If any oil is thrown outwardly by centrifugal action at the outer side of the seal 20, such oil is absorbed by portions of the felt 1 sheet other than the tabs 105 and 106. When the entire sheet 100 is saturated, oil will drip from the bottom of said sheet and more particularly from the point 108. At the relatively low level of the point 108 any oil drip is harmless.

The invention claimed is:

l. A magneto and engine assembly comprising in combination, a stationary engine plate having a hub and having a flat face with an unthreaded hole therein open at the front, a rotatable shaft having a portion extending through and projecting beyond the hub, a core formed of laminated magnetic metal and shaped to provide a plurality of poles having faces equally spaced from the axis of the shaft, primary and secondary coils surrounding one of said poles of the core and cooperating with said core to constitute a stator, a rotor carried by the projecting portion of said rotatable shaft and including a magnet and pole pieces movable in close proximity to said pole face of the core, a breaker cam on said shaft, a breaker mechanism box fixedly connected with said core and having a rear wall with a hole therein, a breaker mechanism in said box electrically connected with said primary coil and including a rocker arm operable by said cam which rocker arm has a bearing hole therein, a pin fitting said unthreaded hole in said flat face of the engine plate and fitting said hole in the rear wall of the box and serving as a dowel pin which pin also extends through said bearing hole in the rocker arm and serves as a pivot pin for said arm, and means additional to said pin for fixedly connecting said core and said breaker mechanism box with said engine plate.

2. A magneto and engine assembly comprising in combination, a stationary engine plate having a hub and having a plurality of. forwardly projecting bosses, one said boss having an unthreaded hole therein and the other said bosses having threaded holes therein, a rotatable shaft having a portion extending through and projecting beyond the hub, a core formed of laminated magnetic metal and shaped to provide a plurality of poles having faces equally spaced from the axis of the shaft, primary and secondary coils surrounding one of said poles of the core and cooperating with said core to constitute a stator, a rotor carried by the projecting portion of said rotatable shaft and including a magnet and pole pieces movable in close proximity to said pole face of the core, a breaker cam on said shaft, a breaker mechanism box connected with said core and having a rear wall with a hole therein, a breaker mechanism in said box electrically connected with said primary coil and including a rocker arm operable by said cam which rocker arm has a bearing hole therein, a pin fitting said unthreaded hole in one boss and fitting said hole in the rear wall of the box and serving as a dowel pin which pin also extends through said bearing hole in the rocker arm and serves as a pivot pin for said arm, and screws connected with said core and said breaker mechanism box and entering said threaded holes in said bosses which screws cooperate with said pin to hold said box and said core in fixed relationship with said engine plate.

3. A magneto and engine assembly comprising in combination, a stationary engine plate having a hub, a rotatable shaft having a portion extending through and projecting beyond the hub, a core formed of laminated magnetic metal and shaped to provide a plurality of poles having faces equally spaced from the axis of the shaft, primary and secondary coils surrounding one of said poles of the core and cooperating with said core to constitute a stator, a rotor carried by the projecting portion of said rotatable shaft and including a magnet and pole pieces movable in close proximity to said pole face of the core, and a transverse vertical sheet of oil absorbent material having a hole through which said shaft extends which sheet is located at the front of the hub and at the rear of said core, said sheet having a portion that contacts said shaft to absorb oil therefrom and said sheet having another portion below the level of said coils from which last said portion oil can drip.

4. A magneto and engine assembly comprising in combination, a stationary engine plate having a hub, a rotatable shaft having a portion extending through and projecting beyond the hub, a core formed of laminated magnetic metal and shaped to provide a plurality of poles having faces equally spaced from the axis of the shaft, primary and secondary coils surrounding one of said poles of the core and cooperating with said core to constitute a stator, a rotor carried by the projecting portion of said rotatable shaft and including a magnet and pole pieces movable in close proximity to said pole face of the core, a breaker cam on said shaft, a breaker mechanism box connected with said core, a breaker mechanism in said box electrically connected with said primary coil and operable by said cam, and a transverse vertical sheet of oil absorbent material having a hole through which said shaft extends which sheet is located at the front of the hub and at the rear of said core,

6 said sheet having a portion that contacts said shaft to absorb oil therefrom and said sheet having another portion below the levels of said coils and of said breaker mechanism from which last said portion oil can drip.

5, A magneto and engine assembly comprising in combination, a stationary engine plate having a hub, a rotatable shaft having a portion extending through and projecting beyond the hub, a core formed of laminated magnetic metal and shaped to provide a plurality of poles having faces equally spaced from the axis of the shaft, primary and secondary coils surrounding one of said poles of the core and cooperating with said core to constitute a stator, a rotor carried by the projecting portion of said rotatable shaft and including a magnet and pole pieces movable in close proximity to said pole face of the core, and a transverse vertical sheet of oil absorbent material having a hole into which said flange fits so that the flange supports the sheet at the front of the hub and at the rear of said core, said sheet having at least one tab that extends through a notch in the flange and which contacts said shaft to absorb oil therefrom and said sheet having a portion below the level of said coils from which said portion oil can drip.

6. A magneto and engine assembly comprising in combination, a stationary engine plate having a hub, a rotatable shaft having a portion extending through and projecting beyond the hub, a core formed of laminated magnetic metal and shaped to provide a plurality of poles having faces equally spaced from the axis of the shaft, primary and secondary coils surrounding one of said poles of the core and cooperating with said core to constitute a stator, a rotor carried by the projecting portion of said rotatable shaft and including a magnet and pole pieces movable in close proximity to said pole face of the core, and a transverse vertical sheet of oil absorbent material having a hole into which said flange fits so that the flange supports the sheet at the front of the hub and at the rear of said core, said sheet having upper and lower tabs that extend through said notches in the flange and which contact said shaft to absorb oil therefrom and said sheet having a portion below the level of said coils from which said portion oil can drip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 618,131 Parker Jan. 24, 1899 1,858,404 Louis May 17, 1932 2,392,500 Phelon Jan. 8, 1946 2,492,858 Grant Dec. 27, 1949 2,537,856 Raleigh Jan. 9, 1951 2,786,154 Phelon Mar. 19, 1957 

